Red Bull Lambiase replacement 2027 is sorted
Tom Hart stays at Red Bull as Williams move collapses, and Gwen Lagrue joins from Mercedes in a major off-track shake-up.
The Red Bull Lambiase replacement for 2027 is no longer a mystery. Red Bull have identified Tom Hart as the man to succeed Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen‘s race engineer, and the story behind how they kept him is just as interesting as the appointment itself.
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Red Bull Lambiase replacement 2027: Tom Hart steps up
Red Bull has confirmed that Hart will take over Lambiase’s role as race engineer. The British engineer had initially appeared to be heading to Williams, where he was set to become Alex Albon’s race engineer. But that move never happened.
Laurent Mekies reportedly intervened on behalf of Red Bull. The Frenchman submitted a request to Williams team principal James Vowles, who agreed to halt the transfer, representing a U-turn for Hart and the team.
Hart, a long-time Red Bull engineer, has been Verstappen’s performance engineer since January 2020 and has been part of the team, including alongside Lambiase, who engineered Verstappen to his four straight world titles. He is not an unknown face in that garage. He is already trusted.
Who is Tom Hart, and why did Williams lose him?
Hart has gained experience as a race engineer during tests with Red Bull reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda over recent weeks, and could stand in for Lambiase at a few races this year to ensure a smooth transition for 2027.
To help ensure a smooth transition, Hart recently gained some experience in the role during Isack Hadjar’s filming day at Silverstone. It all points to a careful, well-planned handover.
He previously deputised for Lambiase in practice at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. So this is not a new challenge for him. He has done it before under pressure.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s long-time race engineer and close ally Lambiase is departing for McLaren for the 2028 season at the latest, leaving Red Bull with a hole to fill. It was announced earlier this year that Lambiase will become McLaren’s chief racing officer. Rumours have suggested that McLaren’s signing of Lambiase is part of a ploy to try and get Verstappen to follow suit, with the four-time champion being linked with a move to the Woking-based outfit. You can read more about those rumours in our piece on Verstappen’s future beyond Red Bull.
How the Gwen Lagrue signing changes everything
The Red Bull Lambiase replacement story is only half of what is shaping up to be a major off-track reshuffle at Milton Keynes. On the same weekend, Red Bull also confirmed a stunning coup in the paddock.
Gwen Lagrue, the highly regarded Mercedes driver development adviser responsible for discovering Antonelli, is set to leave the Silver Arrows to join rival outfit Red Bull. Lagrue will take the reins as the head of Red Bull’s driver development programme.
Lagrue has overseen the junior careers of Esteban Ocon, George Russell, and Kimi Antonelli through the feeder ranks and into F1 seats, with the latter two both currently driving for the Silver Arrows. That is an outstanding track record. Red Bull know exactly what they are getting.
Lagrue, who has been with Mercedes for a decade and helped guide several drivers into F1, is to become the head of Red Bull’s junior driver programme. At Red Bull, Lagrue will take on a lot of the responsibilities that were under the remit of its former motorsport advisor Helmut Marko before he left at the end of last season.
It is not yet clear when Lagrue will officially start his new role. Mercedes and Red Bull are currently locked in negotiations regarding the terms of his release from his active contract. Toto Wolff will not make this easy.
His arrival is particularly pointed given the success of Kimi Antonelli at the Belgian GP, a driver Lagrue helped bring to Mercedes at just 11 years old. Red Bull will want the next great talent discovered under their roof, not a rival’s.
What this Red Bull Lambiase replacement means for Verstappen
The Red Bull Lambiase replacement 2027 picture is becoming clearer. Tom Hart takes the engineering seat. Gwen Lagrue rebuilds the junior pipeline. And Laurent Mekies is quietly reshaping a team that has seen a lot of change at the top in a short time.
While Red Bull may have identified Lambiase’s successor, the biggest unanswered question remains whether Hart will ultimately serve as Verstappen’s race engineer. The four-time world champion has yet to publicly commit his long-term future to Red Bull beyond the current regulations. Check our article on the Verstappen McLaren visit at the Belgian GP for context on just how fluid his future really is.
Red Bull has not yet confirmed what it will do about the head of racing role that Lambiase also held. That is still a piece of the puzzle missing. But for now, the key engineering role alongside the car is covered.
Red Bull are moving fast. The Red Bull Lambiase replacement has been found internally. A world-class talent scout has been poached from a direct rival. And the next races will show whether this new team can stay competitive.
Keep track of everything happening across the season, and don’t miss our full Belgian Grand Prix Spa schedule: everything you need to know as the action continues.
